OTHER GUYS Topple Inception

After three weeks of handing over their hard-earned cash for Christopher Nolan’s mind twister Inception, audiences across the nation gave a nod towards The Other Guys for the latest box office race. The latest comedic team effort between director Adam McKay and his co-writer/friend Will Ferrell, the Sony release was promoted as a buddy cop film that didn’t center on the kick-ass “Bad Boys” of their particular precinct. And that formula seemed to work for moviegoers, with the film grabbing an estimated $35.6 million in coin over its first three days of release and propelling it into the 1st place spot.

“Other Guys” is the fourth theatrical feature for McKay and Ferrell since Anchorman struck theaters back in 2004, and their second best opening performance Talladega Nights took in $47.0 million in its 2004 debut. Opening audiences for the PG-13 pic skewed 56% male, with 55% of patrons under age 25.With the studio setting the production budget at $85 million, it’s a respectable launch for Sony and McKay, who expressed a “huge sigh of relief and gratitude to audiences” on his Twitter over the weekend. The studio also chimed in that they were pleased with the premiere.

"It was a really sweet opening," Sony distribution topper Rory Bruer said. "Mark and Will have been everywhere and really worked hard to open this movie so successfully."

Warner Bros. may have fallen short of taking down a fourth consecutive box office victory but they have nothing to worry about with Chris Nolan’s Inception. Dropping only 32% from its previous weekend tally, the dreamscape tale pulled in another $18.6 million on 3,418 theaters across the country. The latest numbers pushes its domestic cume to $227.7 million, quite a margin over its budget of $160 million. If you want to include the extra $250 million it has grabbed from international waters the release has a global gross of $477.7 million since invading theaters 24 days ago.

The trades are reporting that Disney fell below expectations with the 3D threequal of their Step Up franchise, despite a 3rd place finish and $15.5 million over its first three days. Insiders are pointing out an insufficient number of 3D screens in the marketplace if you can believe that excuse. For those who did attend the opening bow, analytical numbers suggest the premiere’s audience was 60% female, with 70% of all patrons under 25 of age.

The opening tally also seems in line with the previous two installments, with the first one grabbing $20.7 mil and its 2008 sequel earning $18.9 million. Co-produced and financed with Summit Entertainment, the budget for Step Up 3-D is set at around only $30 million so it’s certainly not the end of the world for Disney here.

Beyond the opening victory of “Other Guys,” Sony Pictures’ spy thriller Salt also lands in the top 5 for this report. The Angelina Jolie-led vehicle had the 4th place spot by taking in another estimated $11.1 million in cash. Perhaps under the radar with Nolan’s release taking the limelight, the film’s latest weekend performance has increased its domestic gross to $91.9 million. With another $62.8 million from foreign markets, it has $154.7 million in global receipts. The budget is set at $110 million.

And dropping three slots to 5th place is Paramount & DreamWorks’ comedy Dinner for Schmucks. The Steve Carell-Paul Rudd comedy grabbed another $10.5 million on its 3,004 theaters. After two full weekends of release the film has taken in $46.7 million in domestic sales.

Before we go, it should be noted that Disney and Pixar are entering more elite company with their latest animated effort Toy Story 3. While the release is winding down at theaters—in only 1,714 theaters after 8 weeks of release---the latest weekend sales has increased its domestic score to $396.3 million, just $4 million shy of the amazing $400 mark. Likely to make the mark within a week or so, that will also push its global cume to the $900 million mark. Collectively, Rentrak says the weekend top 10 rung up $118 million, or 7% less than top performers in last year's comparable frame for the first industry downtick in almost two months.

Rank

Movie

Weekend

Theaters

Average

Total

Budget

1

The Other Guys

$35.6 mil

3,651

$9,751

$35.6 mil

$85

2

Inception

$18.6 mil

3,418

$5,442

$227.7 mil

$160

3

Step Up 3-D

$15.5 mil

2,435

$6,366

$15.5 mil

$30

4

Salt

$11.1 mil

3,317

$3,346

$91.9 mil

$110

5

Dinner for Schmucks

$10.5 mil

3,004

$3,495

$46.7 mil

$69

6

Despicable Me

$9.4 mil

3,413

$2,754

$209.4 mil

$69

7

Cats & Dogs 2

$6.9 mil

3,705

$1,865

$26.4 mil

$85

8

Charlie St. Cloud

$4.7 mil

2,725

$1,725

$23.5 mil

$44

9

Toy Story 3

$3.0 mil

1,714

$1,778

$396.3 mil

$200

10

The Kids Are All Right

$2.6 mil

994

$2,622

$14.0 mil

$4

Here’s the top global performers of the 2010 Summer Season. We’ll give it a couple more weeks before we drop it down to the top 5. And with The Expendables and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World set to hit theaters next Friday, feel free to sound off with your predictions on their opening scores down below.

I really hope that Expendables will do will. Although with that title, many may die, which could be great for the story to see so many people we know go down. Would that mean that SCVM would show up in part 2? I don't like how they are putting Arnold and Bruce out there like stars of the film, when from what I have read they filmed for one day and it was a short scene. Either way, I hope to sneak out for a long lunch on Friday and see this before I read anything more about it.

I had the misfortune of getting roped into seenig The Other Guys. And, as I figured, Will Ferrell is the least-funny comedic actor in the world. The movie was complete crap from the word go. I really don't understand how Ferrell keeps getting starring roles.

$47 million for Expendables and $35 million for Scott Pilgrim. We're already planning a guys night out next weekend to see Expendables. I really have no idea if the movie's going to be any good, but it'll be a hell of a lot of fun. Lost of explosions, action stars and cheesy one-liners. I can't wait.

I have my doubts about the Expendables. The trailer shows all the action and possible that could be the only action we will see in the movie. The generation of action heroes is dying and they are replaced by nerds, geeks and dorks. Case in point:

Keanue Reeves - The Matrix - Dork and Geek. The movie is good but could have been better with a true action star

Orlando Bloom - Pirates of the Caribbean -Geek.

Toby McGuire - Spiderman - Nerd, Geek, And Dork

Adrian Brody - Predators - Dork

It seems that action heroes are extinct. Those that are left are too old or crippled. So now they are replaced by goofballs helped by CGI to make them seem invincible and do those stunts that the human body can't do.

Gone are those days where the action was not computerized; explosions and car chases were real.

Now, action stars are getting facials, manicures, and wine about making a dangerous scene; not bad asses like those from the 60s, 70s, and 80s.

I guess its time to hang up the gloves and pass the torch to CGI and dorks, geeks,and nerds.

EXPENDABLES tank? pffttt HAHAHAHA right! Any real man is going to go see this movie and will prolly love it. Unless all of your testosterone has been sucked out by ur GF's making you go see Twilight; which i have manage to keep from seeing any twilight movie thank God!! I think Expendables is going to rake in $42 million opening weekend...Scott Pilgrim will get $25 million

WESSMITH--IM gonna be in florida for Star Wars Celebration V this weekend, so im seeing it in Orlando and when i get back to Ohio, im going out with a buch of guy friends to see it again. I have no doubt that this movie is going to be a badass action movie.Its going to be classic 80's action and i have been dying for a movie like this to come out for a while now! Not everythign has to be artwork in in writing. Im a visual person, and i cant wait to see the ACTION INSUE!!!